The Daily Telegraph

Teenager cleared of stepfather manslaught­er

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A mother who testified against her own son has been praised by a judge after he was cleared of the manslaught­er of his stepfather.

Ina Herridge gave evidence at Maidstone Crown Court against her son Douglas, who denied the manslaught­er of his squash champion stepfather in a row over pocket money.

Herridge, now 18, claimed he acted in self-defence when he punched the 6ft4in tall “gentle” Colin Payne, 54.

Judge Jeremy Carey said Mrs Herridge had been “stoic” and added: “What mother could possibly cope with a situation in which she has had to give evidence for the prosecutio­n and the defendant is her natural child?”

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